“Last week he told me the equity line was for structural roof repairs,” I said.

“The equity application was filed to pay off eighteen thousand dollars in balances on Eleanor’s store cards,” Frank said.

“If he tries to run that withdrawal tonight, the bank will flag the file for administrative fraud.”

“What’s the next step?” I asked.

“Go to your car,” Frank said.

“Don’t go back to Maple Street until six fifteen.

Let the automated system handle the first denial.”

He handed me the thick red folder holding the certified property records, the payroll redirect logs, and the forged garage lease assignment.